, douglas brinkley, professor at rice university. clearly, the president is laying down the gauntlet here. he says common sense is going to prevail. but he seems very confident, he said it twice, that the american people are on his side when it comes to separating these two issues. moving forward, paying the bills, and worrying about raising the debt limit later. is this a good strategy? >> well, it is, and it's also just the box he happens to be in right now. i think the key line today is that we are not a deadbeat nation, and come hell or high water, we've got to pay our bills. but more importantly, in 2012, i thought president obama really was the firewall candidate for president, the progressive firewall. he is constantly saying, you will not touch medicare and medicaid and social security. he's a protector, really, of the new deal and great society programs that's facing a great reaction. the tea party right, the conservative movement that wants to dismantle and roll back a lot of these measures. whether it's, you know, epa or public housing, you can make a laundry list of 20. so thi
